SACRAMENTO, Calif., and NEW YORK - Two separate court cases challenging the federal government's new 12 SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) rule for air conditioners are being heard in U.S. federal courts.
The U.S. 9th District Court of Appeals in California is scheduled to hear a case on whether the state can mandate an energy efficiency level that differs from the federal SEER requirement. At the same time, in New York, a U.S. District court is hearing a suit against the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) asserting that the DOE did not follow federal procedures when it reduced the SEER requirement from 13 to 12.